Your Rights When Placing A Newborn Baby for Adoption
Financial Assistance while Pregnant
Many women wonder if they can be paid for placing a child for adoption. The state of Florida and other states have laws prohibiting the sale of children. What you can receive during pregnancy is financial assistance for your basic needs.
Who Pays for Financial Assistance
The adoption agency may pay some expenses. However they are usually reimbursed by the adoptive family. Therefore, it’s the adoptive family that is paying for your expenses. These expenses must be related to your pregnancy and must also be necessary for living and maternity needs. Living expenses are paid up until 6 weeks after the pregnancy.
Expenses often include:
- Rent/Housing
- Food
- Utilities (light bills, phone bills, cable bills, etc.)
- Transportation
- Medical bills relating to pregnancy
- Medical care
We care about your health and the health of your unborn child. The adoptive parents are also concerned. We would all like to see receive excellent, consistent medical care. We can help you find providers. We can also assist you with transportation to your appointments. We also provide free counseling as adoption is an emotional process.
Custody
You have custody of your newborn until after birth and until the adoption consent is signed. You can sign Consents for Adoption at 48 hours after the child is born or once you have a written discharge order.
Birth and Delivery Plans
Once the baby is born you choose how to spend the next 48 hours with your child. You may not want visitors. You may feel it’s important the adoptive family visit while you’re in the hospital. Every birth mother will have a different birth plan. The birth and delivery plan is up to you and it is your right to have it be however you want. It is our role to respect your wishes. We also help communicate your wishes to the hospital and adoptive family if needed.
Adoption Process
The adoptive parents may receive temporary custody once the legal documents are signed. Finalization of adoption through the court usually occurs a few months later.
Counseling
Making an adoption plan for your child is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. Contacting an adoption professional as early as possible can ease the decision. Adoption counseling will help you cope with the decisions during your pregnancy and after the adoption has been finalized. At A Bond of Love we offer pre and post adoption counseling and therapy.